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Salmonella Outbreak from Raw Sushi Tuna Scrape

425 people in 28 states and the District of Columbia have now fallen ill with Salmonella from a recalled tuna product served in sushi and known as Nakaochi scrape. Of those ill, 55 have been hospitalized.

In its final outbreak update, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the outbreak appears to be over. However, additional cases may surface in the next several months if unaware food establishments continue serving the product, which is sold frozen and has a long shelf-life.

The outbreak’s epidemiological curve shows that a significant number of victims acquired their infections after the April 13 tuna scrape recall, suggesting food establishments continued to serve it for some time following the recall.

The recalled product was distributed by Moon Marine USA Corporation. Retailers carrying the product are asked not to serve it.

Nakaochi scrape is made from scraping meat off the backbones of fish into what looks like a ground product. It is essentially a composite of the meat left on fish after filets have been removed as whole cuts.

The victims of the tuna scrape outbreak were infected with one of two Salmonella strains. In total, 410 fell ill with Salmonella Bareilly, while Salmonella Nchanga sickened 15.